Hi. My name is Dan Thanh (rhymes with won ton) and I am a spender. Even when I was a kid without a dime to my name, I dreamed of being a spender. When I was old enough to earn money, I spazzed out like a dork and blew what little I made on comic books and junk food. As I got older and no wiser, I discovered bigger and better things to fritter away my dough - food, shoes, clothing, travel and you name it, I probably bought it.
Sadly, money was no object. I rarely ever read a contract. I didn't bargain shop. I never researched big or small buys before I whipped out my handy-dandy credit card. Whether I had the money or not, it didn't matter. I couldn't help it. I was a spender.
I finally saw the light, though, when I started writing about consumer issues about three years ago. The more and more I talked to people about how to avoid scams, haggle for the best prices and complain about bad service, the more and more guilt-ridden I was about the free-wheeling, thoughtless spending I had indulged in all my life.
In my reckless past,
I never read a contract. I never shopped around. I never complained when I was wronged. Even worse, I sicced my big sis on the culprits instead of taking care of it myself.
I know, I know. Color me shamed.
So consider me a recovering spender.
Try not to hold my past against me, OK? I'm a recovering spender. That just means I can relate to everyone because I have flaws. But I pinky finger swear, I'm better now.
